Locals get magic win

The Cleland family is well known in Eastern Southland harness racing circles and they look to have a promising two year old in their ownership after Waikaka Magic (Raging Bull) impressively won at Wyndham today.

Trained at Gore by Tony Stratford, driver Sam Ottley was quickly on the scene, challenging early leader Ada R J for the top. After a short battle Waikaka Magic got the front with Ada R J dropping into the trail.

“I said to Sam to be positive with him. We were pretty confident with him but he burnt early,” Stratford said.

At the 400 metres Ottley asked for more from the juvenile and at the finish Waikaka Magic went down to the line to win by a length and a quarter from a late finishing Fernco Nel.

“Blair (Orange) who drove him last week said he burnt off the gate, clearly not as hard as today, but he does come back to you and relaxes. Today he won with a bit in hand I think.”

WAIKAKA MAGIC REPLAY

The winning time was 1-55.3 with the last 800 metres run in 58.8.

“I thought he was a nice horse when we first had him but when he qualified I thought he was just fair so we just biffed him out. He may have been coming to the end of it for that prep. This time round he’s just going forward leaps and bounds.”

However Stratford is not getting too carried away.

“We’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves but he’ll be competitive up in a grade or two. There’s two year old racing down here so we’ll just stick with that in the meantime.”

Waikaka Magic is the first foal out of the Mach Three mare Mila Kunis who’s a daughter of Bute Falcon which won four races for Gavin Smith. The Cleland family have bred a number of foals out of Bute Falcon, including Beauty Barry (2) and Tuneinsportsfans (1).

Later in the day Waikouaiti trainer Amber Hoffman produced a double when both Life Of Art (Art Major) and Jovial Jay (Sweet Lou) won.

The double was one of two on the Wyndham card with Ascot Park trainer Jeremy Douglas gearing up Macandrew Markup (Net Ten EOM) and Always B There (Always B Miki) to win.

The win by Jovial Jay bought up Hoffman’s 300th winner.

She’s trained 149 on her own account, 52 with Jonny Cox and 99 in partnership with Graeme Anderson.
Group success for Hoffman has come with Ballindooley who she trained with Anderson to win the Group Three Four and Five Year Old Championship and Jaccka Justy who she trained with Cox to win the Group Three DG Jones Trotting Cup and the Group One Dominion Trot.

Cox has been the most successful driver for Hoffman with 105 winners followed by Dexter Dunn (55), Blair Orange (23) and Mark Hurrell (21).

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink